Welsh international Powell 'to switch to rugby league'
It looks like Wales rugby union international Andy Powell is to switch codes to join rugby league giants Wigan.
He currently plays for Premiership side Sale, and their director of rugby Steve Diamond said the forward has signed a three-year deal with the Super League team.
Wigan have refused to confirm the reports.
“Andy won’t be with us next year,” Diamond told BBC Radio Manchester. “He’s signed for Wigan for three years, although I don’t know the in-depth details of the contract.”
Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan has made no secret of his desire to sign players from rugby union and has expressed his delight over the form of threequarter Iain Thornley since he returned from a spell with Sale.
However, he declined to comment on the speculation surrounding Powell.
“Sale can talk about their players as much as they want but I am not going to comment on their comments,” Lenagan said.
Powell, who toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and won the last of his 23 caps for Wales in February 2012, would become the highest-profile convert from league to union since Gareth Thomas joined Crusaders in 2010.
Powell’s move would also be a huge boost for Wales ahead of the end-of-season World Cup.
Speaking after Wigan’s win over Wakefield on Sunday, Wales national coach Iestyn Harris, who is also the Warriors’ assistant boss, said: “It would be great for Wales but, as for him coming to Wigan, I don’t know anything.”
